And ... I'm done!

The debate over whether or not the U.S. should apologize for slavery is old, played out and quite frankly I'm tired of it. I just received an e-mail about how Virgina decided to apologize for slavery. And now the question is should America as a whole apologize.

I say, "Get over it."

I mean really, enough is enough! There is nothing that can be done to be able to repay or take away the years of pain, torture, abuse, and belittling that slavery caused. Nothing! It's a sad tragic point in history, but it's also a reminder of survival. Who else can say they survived a chaos so strong for centuries that still has psychologic bearings on their children's children's children? Who else can say and truly mean, they are the descendants of queens and kings? And know this for a fact? Who else can say this? No one. Brown skin people "native" and I use this term loosely, in America are survivors of the worst emasculation and maiming of a people ever.

And we are blessed. I've asked myself and God many of times why He could have let such a corrosion and infestation of the human soul continue for so long. And, I've yet to receive an answer other than what's already in His word: "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the sun." Though it hurts tremedously and no other culture could ever relate to what our ancestors went through and what we're still going through, we have to learn to accept it. As soon as we accept it, run with it and multiply the positivity, we will be better.

But, the major problem here is that folks are so complacent and caught up within there ownselves or problems that it's hard for many to have the know how to want to do better for others. I heard this ol' lady from church say, "Everything is getting to the point now, to where no one can help each other."

I've prayed and begged God to not let this be true, however it is. And now, this simple bit of foolishness somehow continues to make it's way back time and time again to the forefront of American politics and society.

Let it GO!

Slavery and it's mental, physical and emotionally debilitating outcomes can't continue to be used as a crutch and blame for those who can't get ahead. Getting ahead is not about you as an individual anyway. It's about a philosophical whole. An ... us. That old but wise proverb, "It takes a village to raise a child," isn't just about children. It takes a village to raise us. Our village. So, what our village was ransacked, pillaged and raped, we still have to move on.

Let it go. It truly does take a village.

Damn. (As a tear roles down the side of my face, I realize, even these words probably won't help)





© Robyn K. Mizelle, May 2007.